For Immediate Release: Pittsburgh, PA, January 28, 2024 — For the second year in a row, the SmokeOut Rally in Salisbury, NC, has raised $15,000 for the Rowan County Meals On Wheels through the Tankful Project. In 2023, fifteen of the best motorcycle artists in the country donated their time and talent to create one-of-a-kind works of art on motorcycle tanks donated by Paughco Parts (Carson City, NV). Each masterpiece was displayed in the Legends Gallery during the SmokeOut Rally and was auctioned off through an online live auction. Motorcycle enthusiasts nationwide placed bids, and 100 % of all proceeds went directly to Meals On Wheels.
Heather Callen, co-owner of the SmokeOut Rally, in conjunction with Ed Kerr, founding member of the Hamsters USA®, are acutely aware of the struggles for food insecure seniors in the United States and made a pact to make a difference for as many people as possible. The Tankful project began in 2022 and has already donated $30,000 to two separate Meals On Wheels programs.
Callen says: “Just because someone has successfully reached the status of senior citizen doesn’t mean that they live carefree days. According to Meals On Wheels statistics, in 2019, 5.6 million seniors struggled with food insecurity. Many of them, 63%, have to make the difficult choice between filling their bellies or their prescriptions. No one wants to think of their grandmother, who always had cookies at the ready, sitting quietly wondering if she will have dinner, let alone a sweet treat. No son or daughter wants to realize that their mom, who had dinner on the table every night after baseball or dance class, may not have had a meal for herself in days. The dad who took you fishing to catch Sunday supper would be grateful for a simple can of tuna. These are the people who guided us through, helped many of us reach our goals, and would more than likely share what little they did have instead of seeing a child go without. For as long as I can, I will continue the Tankful Project to raise not only money but also awareness for the food insecurity in our country.”
Callen hopes to expand the program to contribute to food pantries and other programs to fill the “tanks” of those struggling with food insecurities throughout the United States.
Lowbrow Customs (Brunswick, OH) has stepped up to donate 20 tanks to the Tankful project in 2024, and the 2024 artists will be announced in the coming days on www.smokeoutrally.com/tankful. For those who want to help but may not be able to bid on a tank, general donations can be made at www.smokeoutrally.com/tankful.
For more information or to get involved, please email [email protected].
Source: Story.KISSPR.com
Release ID: 898853